Dinosaur Jr.

Formed in 1984 in Amherst, Massachusetts, Dinosaur Jr. established itself as a core trio of American indie rock around J Mascis, Lou Barlow and Murph. Emerging from hardcore punk but quickly moving toward a broader sound, the band blends alternative rock, indie rock and noise rock, with songs built on saturated guitars, lots of feedback, marked variations between tension and melody, and Mascis's drawling vocals. The early albums, Dinosaur (1985), You’re Living All Over Me (1987) and Bug (1988), lay the foundations of an aesthetic that links punk energy to more classical references. After Lou Barlow’s departure in 1989, Dinosaur Jr. continued through the 1990s around Mascis, notably with Green Mind (1991), Where You Been (1993), Without a Sound (1994) and Hand It Over (1997), on a trajectory more tied to the era's alternative rock without losing its sonic density. The band split at the end of the 1990s before reforming its original lineup in 2005. Since that reformation, Dinosaur Jr. has resumed regular activity on stage and in the studio with Beyond (2007), Farm (2009), I Bet on Sky (2012), Give a Glimpse of What Yer Not (2016) and Sweep It Into Space (2021), maintaining this combination of abrasive melodies, loud volume and restrained tension that runs through its discography.